Evidence for <i>d</i>-Wave Superconductivity in Single Layer FeSe/SrTiO₃ Probed by Quasiparticle Scattering Off Step Edges

Abstract

The de Gennes extrapolation length is a direction dependent measure of the spatial evolution of the pairing gap near the boundary of a superconductor and thus provides a viable means to probe its symmetry. It is expected to be infinite and isotropic for plain s-wave pairing, and finite and anisotropic for d-wave. Here, we synthesize single-layer FeSe films on SrTiO₃(001) (STO) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy and measure the de Gennes extrapolation length by scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy. We find a 40% reduction of the superconducting gap near specular [110]_Fe edges, yielding an extrapolation length of 8.0 nm. However, near specular [010]_Fe edges, the extrapolation length is nearly infinite. These findings are consistent with a phase changing pairing with 2-fold symmetry, indicating d-wave superconductivity. This is further supported by the presence of in-gap states near the specular [110]_Fe edges, but not the [010]_Fe edges. This work provides direct experimental evidence for d-wave superconductivity in single-layer FeSe/STO and demonstrates quasiparticle scattering at boundaries to be a viable phase sensitive probe of pairing symmetry in Fe-based superconductors.